Why have you chosen to serve on the AACS Board of Directors?
Passion and purpose. If I can find the passion for something, because of its compelling purpose, I am all in. Having two sets of kids go through AACS (Class of 2014, 2018, future Class of 2025 and Class of 2028), I have the unique perspective of witnessing the positive influence and growth of AACS for the past 17 years.
What do you do when you're not at AACS?
I am the law registrar at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. In this role, I am responsible for the curriculum and schedule of classes, final exams, grading, record retention, FERPA enforcement, certifying records and graduates and leading the office. Before my current job, I was Secretary to the State Board of Law Examiners in charge of the Maryland Bar Exam and licensing attorneys in the State of Maryland. I practiced law for 8 years representing foster children in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County.
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Sharon, and I have been married since 1993. We met at the University of Maryland College Park as undergraduates. We have four wonderful children (two adult and two school-age). Our oldest daughter, a 2014 AACS graduate, earned her English Literature and Teaching Certificate credential from UMBC in 2019 and her Master of Science in Education Leadership from Old Dominion University in 2023 and is interviewing for Assistant Principal positions in the Richmond area. Our oldest son graduated from AACS in 2018 and graduated from UMCP with his degree in Vocal Performance in 2022. He is currently working for two voice studios in Annapolis and Rockville/Potomac. He is also performing in operas through the Victorian Lyric Opera Company in Rockville and the Annapolis Opera. Our youngest son is an Upper School student having played several main roles in both musicals and drama performances at the Upper School while also participating on the praise and worship team. Our youngest daughter is a rising 8th grader at the Middle School and is involved in dramas and musicals at the Middle School and will start Color Guard in the fall.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Southgate Community of Anne Arundel County since 1976. I attended Southgate Elementary, Old Mill North and Old Mill Senior High School having graduated in 1985.
Describe a perfect Saturday morning.
A perfect Saturday morning would be spent with my family at the National Gallery of Art in DC surrounded by The Voyage of Life paintings of Thomas Cole followed by a meal in the Cascade Café watching the waterfall and cascading lights in the pedestrian tunnel.
What's one of your favorite Bible passages and why?
Jeremiah 29:11, " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' ” I remember hearing this read by Dr. Tony Evans at a Promise Keepers Conference and it was a powerful reminder that God is in control and knows His plans on my behalf, so it is unnecessary to worry or set my own agenda.
Why have you chosen to serve on the AACS Board of Directors?
I have always lived my life by serving others and exploring all opportunities that the Lord puts in my path. I am so grateful that I was called to serve the AACS school community. We have been an AACS school family for fifteen years and this community has blessed and strengthened our family in so many ways.
What do you do when you're not at AACS?
I work full time at Historic London Town & Gardens in Edgewater, MD as the Director of Private Events. It’s a beautiful place to work, and I am responsible for booking and managing over 75 weddings a year! I serve weekly at our church, Bay Area Community Church, in the student Ministry as a youth group leader. I also serve as a room mom at AACS and volunteer as an event planner for my daughter’s ballet school.
Tell us about your family.
My husband Joseph and I have been married for over 20 years. We moved to Annapolis in 2004 and knew this was a place where we wanted to take root and raise our family. We have been blessed by three children - Alexander, who is a 2021 AACS Grad and lifer, Julia was at AACS for 10 years and is now a homeschooled junior and pre-professional ballerina and Anna, a rising 9th grader who has been at AACS since pre-K. Our family has a love for the arts as our son aspires to be an animator and was really involved with the high school drama department at AACS, Julia is working toward a professional career as a ballerina, and Anna just played the part of Belle in the middle school production of Beauty and the Beast. We enjoy watching movies and going to live theater and ballet performances.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I went to Penn State University and received my degree in Advertising with an emphasis in Public Relations. I moved to the DC area in 1999, met my husband, and married him in 2001–the rest is history!
Describe a perfect Saturday morning.
A perfect Saturday morning would be waking up early to enjoy the stillness of the day, making my family breakfast and going out on the water with my paddleboard.
What is one of your favorite Bible passages and why?
I find great comfort and encouragement in Proverbs. If I had to choose one verse it would be Proverbs 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I’m not always excellent at following this verse, but I strive to be more understanding, and I try to see the point of view of others and not react in anger.
Why have you chosen to serve on the AACS Board of Directors?
I believe that serving others is one of my most important responsibilities as a follower of Jesus and a member of the global community. I look for opportunities to serve wherever I find myself. Since joining the AACS community in 2017, when my oldest daughter became a student, I have found ways to lend my time and my gifts to the school. I see my role on the school board as another way to serve the AACS community.
What do you do when you are not at AACS?
I am blessed to be able to dedicate much of my time to being a wife and a mom of two energetic girls. I also work as a freelance writer and editor. I volunteer with the non-profit organization where I worked for many years, serving youth from an under-resourced community in DC, and I participate in various groups and ministries at our church. During my downtime, I enjoy reading and creative writing. I also love to host gatherings of friends and family where everyone can enjoy good food and quality time together.
Tell us about your family?
My husband Charles, an interventional pain physician, and I have been married since 2003 and we have two daughters. Our oldest daughter attends the AACS Middle School, and our youngest attends the Severn Lower School. Both of our girls enjoy participating in sports and performing arts. Our mentee of many years, and “big brother” to our daughters, lives with us as well. As a family, we enjoy bike rides, picnics, movie nights, and traveling within the U.S. and internationally.
Where did you grow up?
I am originally from Philadelphia, PA. But for most of my childhood, my stepfather was a Navy chaplain and we moved around a lot—mostly on the east coast.
Describe a perfect Saturday morning.
A perfect Saturday morning in the Simmons house would involve a family devotional, making breakfast together (acai bowls are our favorite!), and getting outside for what my husband likes to call “adventure time," a hike, a bike ride, or an outing to explore a new town, park, museum, or festival.
What's one of your favorite Bible passages and why? Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."
I love Proverbs 3:5-6 because it speaks to me as a summary of instructions for Christian living. These verses remind me that when I relinquish my human tendency to control, worry, plan, excuse, judge, decide—independent of God—and instead invite God’s wisdom and direction, He will unfold His good and perfect plan in my life. I can trust that even my pain is part of God molding me and directing my path toward His purpose.
Why have you chosen to serve on the AACS Board of Directors?
I’ve always found a great sense of purpose in serving the community that I’ve been a part of. It’s what drove me to my former job as a professional firefighter, and it’s what drove me to leave that job behind to pastor the church that I now pastor. Because of my deep agreement with the vision of AACS and the great experiences my family and I have had with the school, I see serving on the Board of Directors at AACS as another great opportunity to do one of the few things worth doing in this life: loving and serving other people.
What do you do when you’re not at AACS?
I’m usually involved in something with the church I pastor, Severn Covenant Church. I’ve been a pastor there for just over a decade, and I spent a great deal of my time either meeting with the people from my church or working on next Sunday’s message. If I’m not doing that, I’m usually exercising, reading, or trying to keep up with my 4 children.
Tell us about your family.
My wife Katie and I have known each other since 8th grade. This July, we’ll hit our 10-year anniversary. They have been the best 10 years of my life. During that time, God has given us 4 incredible children that keep us laughing and on our toes every day. At this moment, my two oldest attend the Severn Lower School, while the two youngest aren’t yet school-age.
Where did you grow up?
I’ve lived in Severn or immediately around it my entire life.
Describe a perfect Saturday morning.
My family and I are on a beach somewhere along the Atlantic. I wake up before the sun comes up, put on some coffee, and go stand out in the ocean and watch the sunrise on the water. After some time with God, I’d get into whatever book I’m reading (probably something by Tim Keller). Then I’d throw in my air pods and go for a run. After everyone else is up, we spend the day together outside in the sun.
What’s one of your favorite Bible passages, and why?
I’ve always loved 2 Chronicles 20:12: “12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.” If we’re honest, I think we all feel at different times in our lives that we’re up against something that makes us feel powerless. Being brought to that place is never a pain-free process. But if we can allow the hard times of life to teach us to look to God and trust Him in deeper ways, then they have no power over us but to make us wiser, kinder, more hopeful, and ultimately more like Jesus.
Why have you chosen to serve on the AACS Board of Directors?
Serving on the board was not on my radar. I have been serving the school by preaching in chapels for the Middle School for the last 14 years, but have been more involved in the last two years since enrolling our daughters in the school. When someone approached me about serving on the board it was in the light of continuing to serve the school in new ways.
What do you do when you're not at AACS?
I am the Associate/Youth Pastor at Mariners’ Church in Annapolis. We moved here in March of 2008 to begin my work at the church. Outside of that, much of my time is with my family running around with school activities or catching a movie!
Tell us about your family.
I met my wife, Jamie, when I moved to Long Island, NY to begin serving as a Youth Pastor. She was already in the church. She is originally from Michigan, but was out in New York for her master’s degree, and then got a job in Queens. We started dating three days before 9/11, and walking through that together boosted our relationship more quickly. We were married in April of 2002. We have two daughters, who both started at AACS in 2021. Cecily will be starting her senior year and Cierra will be starting her 8th grade year in the Fall of 2023.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up mainly in California with my Dad, Mom, and two older brothers. My dad served in the Navy for 25 years and that had us living in Omaha (NE), San Diego (CA), San Jose (CA), and Denver (CO). Everywhere I lived, I have considered home and have loved.
Describe a perfect Saturday morning.
A perfect Saturday morning would be getting up before anyone else, having my quiet time with the Lord, going to the YMCA in Arnold for a run and workout, and back at the house as everyone else starts getting up. We always enjoy just walking around downtown Annapolis, so that would be a great morning to just walk around with the fam and go to one of our favorite places to eat at Moe’s, Mission BBQ, or Galway Bay!
What's one of your favorite Bible passages, and why?
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
This has been my favorite verse in the Bible since I was in high school. There is the reminder that God’s love for me is so great that He sacrificed His own life for mine, but there is also the element that He “lay down” His life. The fact that Jesus chose to surrender His life is such a big deal to me. No one forced Jesus to go to the cross. In fact, He proved He had the power to prevent that from happening over and over, even on the night he was betrayed. Check out John 18:4-11! It’s awesome! When Jesus knew He had all authority and power, He chose to serve (washing the disciples’ feet) and surrender His life (John 18)! Amazing!
DISCOVER AACS MIDDLE SCHOOL
JOIN US FOR OUR FINAL ADMISSIONS EVENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
Discover AACS Middle School
Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
